First Breeze Airways flight departs from Plattsburgh

Nov. 28—PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh International Airport's newest airline, Breeze Airways, flies where others do not, founder and CEO David Neeleman says.

"This air service is such an important part of a community (like this)," Neeleman said at a news conference Tuesday, celebrating Breeze Airways inaugural flight out of PBG to Orlando.

"(By) being able to bring people to this great part of the country for summer and winter activities ... but also allow the residents to be able to go when it gets a little cold or when you want to see something different."

BETTER

In comparison to other companies like Spirit Airlines, which flies 90% of its routes where other airlines already are, Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue and is CEO of Azul Brazilian Airlines, said 93% of Breeze Airways' routes currently fly where there is no other competition.

"Our model is different," he said. "A lot like Allegiant, but I like to say we're 'Allegiant better.'"

The Breeze Airways plane, which was designed just across the border in Maribel, Canada, has 137 seats available.

Among those, 12 are first-class seats and 45 are extra-legroom seats, Neeleman said.

The airline's service to Orlando will be available three days a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays — at PBG.

On Feb. 2, Breeze Airways is will also be adding a flight to Tampa twice a week. Neeleman stressed that there is plenty of room for the airline to grow even more at PBG if the public supports the flights currently being offered.

"We stay where people support us and we grow where people support us," he said. "We have cities we started with one destination, (now) we have 22 destinations. and I know that there's a lot of places you'd like to go."

PBG Director Chris Kreig shared his enthusiasm for the new airline service.

"I just want to take an opportunity to just say how excited we are to have Breeze start at the airport and come into the North Country," he said.

Kreig said the addition of Breeze Airways would not have been possible without the advocacy and support from the Clinton County Legislature, and local elected officials

He also thanked the airport staff for being the ones that "make the airport run" every day.

"They're the ones that get things done at this airport. They're the ones that put together everything here this morning, and without their work, without their efforts, we could not have an airport."

HIGH SCORES

Breeze Airways currently boasts a high net promoter score (NPS), which is used to gauge customer loyalty and brand sentiment within various industries.

Neeleman said he believes the service's high score is due to a combination of several factors, including the airline's availability in more remote parts of the country.

"We've got an NPS score of 70, which is the highest I've ever seen," he said. "It's higher than Apple's NPS score, and that's (due to) a combination of great crews, a great airplane but also, the ability to provide premium product to our customers."

That "premium product" also includes trying to never cancel a flight. Neeleman said just three out of 2,700 flights last month were canceled.

"So you can rely on us and we'll take care of you."

Clinton County Legislature Chairman Mark Henry said Breeze Airways has been "so great to work with" and that they "bent over backwards to be here."

"We appreciate all that you've done. We appreciate that you're being here and we look forward to continuing on and getting bigger and better."

He added that the new airline service was the culmination of many parties working together to get it done.

This included many of the local officials in attendance for the press conference, such as Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateauguay Lake), State Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury), Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman, North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas, Clinton County Administrator Michael Zurlo and Legislator and Chair of the Plattsburgh International Airport Committee Bobby Hall (D-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh).

"But there is a group of folks here that are more important than anyone and that's the folks that are flying this airline out of Plattsburgh," Henry said.

"We know you have a choice. There's a lot of airports and airlines in this immediate area. So we would like to thank you for choosing Plattsburgh to fly out of and for choosing Breeze airlines to fly to Orlando."

Hall, who usually is the receiver of complaints when something goes wrong at the airport, he said, acknowledged the opportunity that the addition of Breeze Airways gives them.

"This is gonna be a great relationship. I listen to every word he (Neeleman) said and I think the one thing that I really caught on to is there can be other flights — there will be other flights — if we use them, if we use this airport," he said.

"There's over 100 people on this flight, thank you, thank you, thank you. Use it all the time. This is a great airline. They will go other places and we need them."

PASSENGERS HAPPY

Art and Jamie Webb of Canton, were two passengers on the inaugural flight to Orlando. They regularly take vacations down to Florida and usually fly Allegiant out of Plattsburgh.

They chose Breeze Airways after hearing about the airline from a friend in Orlando.

"So we checked them both out and Breeze had the better deal," Art said.

Douglas said when ground broke on the Plattsburgh International Airport almost two decades ago, adding services like Breeze Airways was part of what they envisioned the airport could eventually become.

"Did any of you imagine 20 years ago, when we were at Clinton County Airport, that you would (be able to) step on a jet and fly to Florida out of Plattsburgh non-stop?" he asked.

"It was unimaginable. It's now become taken for granted, which is a mark of success and a mark of how ingrained this operation has become."

Town Supervisor Cashman similarly said, "The Town of Plattsburgh takes pride in being the host of the Plattsburgh International Airport, and we are delighted to extend a warm welcome to Breeze."

"The affordability of their services, coupled with the convenient location at PBG, is truly something our community has much to celebrate."

Email: cnewton@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: CarlySNewton